The Red Fort
SightThe vast Mughal-era sandstone fort at the heart of Old Delhi, with palaces, gardens and museums inside its walls. Buy tickets at the official counter or online, and allow a couple of hours.
₹476 – ₹857 · $5 – $9 2 hr
Slyronit / CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons Trusted guide · scam-protected
Delhi
India's layered capital of forts, tombs and teeming bazaars
Confidence 81%
Verified August 4, 2026 · 2 sources · confidence 81%
Overview
Delhi is India's capital and one of its oldest continuously inhabited cities, a sprawling metropolis where centuries of empires have left forts, tombs and mosques scattered among modern avenues and crowded bazaars. Old Delhi, around the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, is a dense maze of markets, street food and rickshaws, while New Delhi to the south is greener and more spacious, with India Gate and the wide colonial-era boulevards. Landmarks like Humayun's Tomb and the towering Qutub Minar rank among the country's finest monuments. Delhi can overwhelm first-time visitors with its noise, traffic and persistent touts, but the excellent metro makes it far easier to navigate than it looks, and a firm, friendly manner goes a long way. Eat well, stay hydrated, keep your wits about you around the main tourist areas, and Delhi rewards you with extraordinary history, food and colour. It is also the usual gateway to Agra and the wider north.
Things to do
The sights and experiences worth your time — with honest prices.
Qutub Minar
SightA soaring early medieval victory tower and surrounding ruins, one of Delhi's most striking monuments. A ticketed site, quieter in the morning and easy to reach by metro.
₹476 – ₹857 · $5 – $9 1.5 hr
Humayun's Tomb
SightA magnificent garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal, with symmetrical Mughal architecture and calm lawns. A ticketed site and one of the city's most rewarding visits.
₹476 – ₹857 · $5 – $9 1.5 hr
India Gate
SightA large war memorial arch on a ceremonial avenue, surrounded by lawns where families gather in the evening. Free to visit and pleasant around sunset.
Free 45 min
Jama Masjid
SightOne of India's largest mosques, a grand Mughal structure overlooking Old Delhi. Entry is free with a fee for cameras and the minaret climb; dress modestly and mind prayer times.
₹0 – ₹476 · $0 – $5 1 hr
Lotus Temple
SightA striking modern Bahai house of worship shaped like a lotus flower, open to all for quiet reflection. Free to enter, with queues at busy times; photography is limited inside.
Free 1 hr
Fair prices & scam shield
What locals pay — check a quote before you hand over cash.
Airport Express Metro
per person
₹48 – ₹76 · $1
The Airport Express Metro is a fast, very cheap link to central Delhi that avoids road traffic. Buy a token or use a travel card, and ignore taxi touts as you exit the terminal.
Prepaid or app taxi from the airport
per ride
₹381 – ₹857 · $4 – $9
Use the official prepaid taxi booth inside the terminal or a ride-hailing app with an upfront price. Never accept a ride from someone approaching you in the arrivals hall.
Single metro ride
per ride
₹19 – ₹76 · $0 – $1
The Delhi Metro is clean, air-conditioned and cheap, and it bypasses the traffic. A travel card saves queuing, and women can use the reserved women-only carriage.
Metered auto-rickshaw trip
per ride
₹57 – ₹238 · $1 – $3
Insist on the meter or agree a fair price before setting off, as tourist quotes are often several times the real fare. A ride-hailing app for autos removes the haggling.
Vegetarian thali
per person
₹143 – ₹476 · $2 – $5
A thali at a busy local restaurant is filling and excellent value. Choose places with high turnover and lots of local diners for freshness and hygiene.
Street chaat or samosa
per item
₹38 – ₹190 · $0 – $2
Street snacks are a Delhi highlight and very cheap. Pick busy stalls cooking fresh, and be a little cautious with anything raw or with tap-water ice if your stomach is sensitive.
Mid-range restaurant meal
per person
₹381 – ₹1,143 · $4 – $12
Sit-down restaurants away from the main tourist streets offer good food at fair prices. Check the bill for extra service or taxes before paying.
Check the price — Airport Express Metro
Common scams
'Your hotel is closed' diversion
HighHow it works: A taxi or auto driver, or a fake 'tourist office', claims your hotel is closed, full or unsafe, then diverts you to another hotel or agency that pays them a commission.
How to avoid it: Confirm your booking directly with the hotel by phone, insist on being taken to your actual address, and ignore unsolicited 'official tourist offices' near the station and markets.
Gem and carpet export scam
HighHow it works: A friendly contact offers a deal to buy gems, jewellery or carpets and resell them abroad at a profit, asking you to pay now and carry or receive goods later. The goods are worthless and the money is gone.
How to avoid it: Never buy valuables to 'resell for profit' on a stranger's promise. Treat any unsolicited investment or export deal as a scam and walk away.
Auto-rickshaw overcharging
MediumHow it works: Drivers refuse the meter, quote inflated flat fares to tourists, claim your destination is 'very far' or take long detours, sometimes via shops that pay commission.
How to avoid it: Use a ride-hailing app with a fixed price, or insist on the meter and know the rough fare first. Decline detours to shops and pay only what was agreed.
Fake ticket touts at monuments
MediumHow it works: People outside the Red Fort, Qutub Minar or other sights claim the official queue is closed or sell 'skip-the-line' or fake tickets at inflated prices.
How to avoid it: Buy only at the official ticket counter or verified online site. Ignore anyone intercepting you outside, and check opening hours in advance so their claims do not work.
Getting there & around
Real fares, not tourist prices.
Getting there
Airport Express Metro 25 min₹48 – ₹76 · $1
A fast, cheap metro line from the airport into central Delhi, avoiding the traffic. The simplest budget link; buy a token or use a travel card and skip the taxi touts.
Prepaid airport taxi 45 min₹381 – ₹857 · $4 – $9
The official prepaid booth inside the terminal fixes the fare in advance so there is no haggling. Keep the receipt and hand it to the driver only on arrival.
Ride-hailing car 45 min₹381 – ₹952 · $4 – $10
App-based cars give an upfront price and a tracked route, a reassuring option from the airport and around the city. Match the plate and driver before boarding.
Getting around
Delhi Metro₹19 – ₹76 · $0 – $1
A clean, modern and cheap network reaching most major sights and bypassing the traffic. Security checks apply at entry, and there is a reserved women-only carriage.
Auto-rickshaw₹57 – ₹238 · $1 – $3
The classic three-wheeler is handy for short hops. Insist on the meter or agree the price first, or book one through a ride-hailing app to avoid overcharging.
Ride-hailing car in the city₹190 – ₹667 · $2 – $7
Convenient for longer trips, luggage or the heat, with a fixed app price. Useful when the metro does not reach your destination directly.
Best time to visit
January–March and October–December
The cooler months from October to March are by far the most comfortable for sightseeing, with mild days and cool evenings. April to June is extremely hot, the monsoon brings humidity and rain from July, and air pollution often peaks around late autumn.
Safety
WarningDelhi's air quality can be very poor, especially in late autumn and winter. Check an air-quality app, limit strenuous outdoor time on bad days, and consider a mask if you are sensitive or have breathing conditions.
CautionStick to sealed bottled or filtered water, avoid tap water and ice of unknown origin, and choose busy places cooking fresh. Building up gradually helps avoid the common travellers' stomach upset.
CautionTraffic is dense and fast with assertive driving, and crossings can be chaotic. Cross with care, ideally with locals or at signals and footbridges, and stay alert to autos and motorbikes weaving through.
Hidden gems
Visit Humayun's Tomb in the late afternoon for golden light and far fewer crowds than the busiest sights.
Explore Old Delhi's lanes around Chandni Chowk on foot or by cycle-rickshaw for street food and market colour.
Use Delhi as a base and take an early fast train to Agra for the Taj Mahal as a comfortable day trip.
Frequently asked questions
How many days should I spend in Delhi?
Two to three days covers Old Delhi, the main monuments like Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar, and New Delhi, and lets you slot in a day trip to Agra by fast train.
Is it safe to eat street food in Delhi?
It can be a highlight if you are careful. Choose busy stalls cooking fresh with high turnover, avoid tap-water ice and uncovered raw items, and drink only sealed bottled water.
What is the best way to get around Delhi?
The metro is clean, cheap and beats the traffic for most sights. For door-to-door trips use a ride-hailing app or a metered auto, and agree fares in advance to avoid overcharging.
How do I avoid the common tourist scams?
Confirm your hotel directly, ignore 'tourist offices' and anyone saying your hotel is closed, buy tickets only at official counters, and never buy goods to 'resell for profit' on a stranger's promise.
When is the best time to visit Delhi?
October to March is the most comfortable, with mild weather for sightseeing. Summer is extremely hot, and air pollution tends to peak in late autumn, so check air-quality forecasts.
Delhi scams — read before you land
The fair price and scam protection for every service.
Updated · from 2 verified sources · figures are auto-checked before publishing.